Issuu

TUESDAY 19th January, 2021

' No.106247

Preposterous, unmeritorious, contrived SEE PAGE 03

–– CJ describes arguments by lawyers of APNU+AFC in throwing out second election petition –– GECOM ordered to produce statements of poll and statements of recount

Persons to be fired over malpractices at asphalt plant SEE PAGE 08

Qatar field hospital $2.5B earned from expected at non-traditional ‘West Dem’ today agricultural products PAGE

PAGE

Pensioner burnt to death in Cummings Lodge fire

PAGE

$2.5B

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

earned from non-traditional agricultural produce produce

―points to growing interest in Guyana’s non-traditional crops overseas

By Navendra Seoraj GUYANA continues to prove that its agricultural wealth stretches beyond rice and sugar, with non-traditional agricultural produce raking in over US$12.2 million (G$2.5B) in 2020. This was earned from the export of more than 9,000 tonnes of non-traditional agricultural produce, which included grain crops, oil seeds, root and tuber crops, vegetables and “greens”, spices and seasonings and a wide variety of fruits. Based on information shared with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, dried coconut was the most exported product, accounting for 8,217 metric tonnes of total exports and earning over $1.6 billion. The local coconut industry currently has about 1,800 farmers, who collectively cultivate some 24,000 acres of coconut in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. And, Guyana, on average, produces 92 million nuts annually, much of which is exported for coconut copra and water, mainly to Barbados, Trinidad and The Dominican Republic. Other widely exported products include coconut wa-

ter, which accounted for 428 metric tonnes of total exports and earned $377 million, pumpkin with 428 metric tonnes and $52.5 million in revenue, and watermelons with 212 metric tonnes and revenue of $60.4 million. The non-traditional agricultural sector has been increasing in importance because of the introduction of programmes and projects

which promote diversification and expansion. In 2019, the largest share of agricultural production was contributed by other crops; it represented 48.9 per cent of agriculture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 8.6 per cent of total GDP. It is also the major source of income and employment for the rural population. The other crops/fruits

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha

and vegetables sub-sector in Guyana is characterised by the predominance of varying farming systems, such as small scale shifting cultivation (slash and burn) for

ability for growing crops, sufficient water resources, suitable weather, as well as policy support from the government to enhance its role as a regional leader in agricul-

while the rhetoric has outweighed action on this front, the country will be looking to realise its potential in the coming years, with immediate focus on tapping at least

Some of Guyana’s non-traditional agricultural crops staples, like cassava, eddoe, plantain, peas and beans, pineapples, peanuts etc for cash income and own consumption; medium to large pure stands of tree crops, such as coconuts and citrus; and medium and small farms with permanent crops intercropped with cassava, plantain and other ground provision to supplement cash income and ensure food security. The Guyana Chronicle understands that these crops are produced mainly by small farmers and contribute to the domestic market and food security, and support the incomes of small farming communities. Crops are cultivated in all of the regions in Guyana. However, commercial level production is concentrated in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. And, based on available statistics, production of non-traditional crops, in 2020, was 764,883 metric tonnes, two per cent more than the 749,087 metric tonnes produced in 2019. Guyana has strategic advantages of suitable land avail-

tural production and export of surplus. GROWING INTEREST Evidently too, there is growing interest in Guyana’s non-traditional crops overseas, as export volumes of non-traditional crops have increased due to the agriculture export diversification initiatives (AEDP). This programme was designed to promote certain crops for the local market and to target the export market, particularly the CARICOM market. Among the crops promoted were the 4Ps (peppers, plantains, pineapples and pumpkin) and the 4Cs (Coconut, citrus, cassava, carrots). During 2019, about 9,121 tonnes of fresh fruits, vegetables and processed foods were exported from Guyana to the Caribbean region and other countries. The total export value during 2019 of non-traditional agricultural commodities was $US12.4M (G$2.5B). For years, Guyana’s ‘potential’ to become the breadbasket of the Caribbean has been under the spotlight and

15 per cent of the close to US$6 billion regional food import bill. Most of the commodities, which form part of this huge bill, are sourced from the “developed world” while Guyana, a member state of the CARICOM, has the potential to supply a sizeable amount of those commodities. It was reported that ten commodities – food preparations, wheat, rice, chicken, non-alcoholic beverages, maize, soya bean, sugar and palm oil — account for more than 40 per cent of CARICOM’s food import bill. Immediately, based on this list, Guyana has the potential to supply rice, sugar and poultry, among many other things. And, there have already been attempts by Government to create a business-friendly environment by removing Value Added Tax (VAT) on the poultry industry and removing VAT and duties on machinery and equipment for mining, forestry, agriculture and manufacturing.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Preposterous, unmeritorious, contrived –– CJ describes arguments by lawyers of APNU+AFC in throwing out second election petition –– GECOM ordered to produce statements of poll, statements of recount

By Navendra Seoraj CITING what she described as “unmeritorious submissions” from the lawyers representing petitioners, Chief Justice (ag), Roxane George, has ruled that the elections petition, 99 of 2020, is invalid on the basis that the second named respondent, David Granger, was served the petition after the prescribed time for service would have expired. Through this petition, Petitioners, Monica Thomas and Brennan Nurse, had argued that the elections were unlawfully conducted and/or that the results, were affected or might have been affected by unlawful acts or omissions. Their intention, as such, was for the court to nullify the outcome of the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections and to declare that President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, is occupying the seat of office illegally. The Chief Justice, however, struck out this petition since it was not filed in consonance with the rules outlined in the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act. It is the entrenched principles of elections law that the provision regarding time must be strictly complied with, as non-adherence to the requisite timeliness was held by courts to result in the nullification of election petitions. Justice George, in her ruling, said there is a plethora of cases in the English-speaking Caribbean, which confirm that non-adherence to the provision requiring service of all required documents within the statutory time, would result in petition being nullified and dismissed. This was the case of Joseph and Brown (1994), Mohabir and Cuffy (2015), Joseph and Reynolds (2012), and Brown and Gibson (1994). Petition, 99 of 2020, which was filed on September 15, 2020, should have been served on Granger five days thereafter. However, according to an affidavit by Nurse, it was served to Granger on September 28. It was on those grounds that Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, had filed an

Attorney-at-Law Roysdale Forde

Attorney-General, Anil Nandlall

application seeking to have this petitions struck out, since it does not comply with Section two of the National Assembly Validity of Elections Act. The initial affidavits of service were filed by the petitioners on September 29, 2020. But, those affidavits, which were all dated September 24, 2020, ‘strangely’ stated that service to the second respondent was effected on September 25, 2020. “…The documents should have been served on or before September 21, 2020, therefore, September 25 would be outside of the statutory five-day period required for service. The petitioners conceded that the affidavit of service was served on September 25, and it would mean that it was not served within the required time,” Justice George said. The petitioners, who were represented by Trinidadian Senior Counsel, John Jeremie, in recognising the gravity of their error, filed a supplementary affidavit on November 11, 2020, seeking to negate the September 25 date. He explained that service was effected on September 18, 2020. Trinidadian Senior Counsel, Douglas Mendes, who represented Vice-President, Bharrat Jagdeo, however, objected to this on the basis that no permission was sought and that the filing, which was done after two months

of the filing of the affidavits, violated critical rules. To this end, the Chief Justice ruled that permission should have been sought, so those affidavits could not be relied on as proof of the timely service to the second respondent. “Realising the gravity of their obvious error and having been pointed out by the court, the petitioners have sought to correct this error and have failed miserably… the evidence is manifestly unreliable and cannot be acted to prove that the second respondent was served on September 18, 2020,” Justice George ruled. She concluded that Granger, who was the Presidential Candidate for APNU+AFC in the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections, was not served within the five-day period required by the rules. Additionally, Justice George rejected arguments put forward by lawyers representing the petitioners who claimed that Granger was added as a misjoinder and that he is not a necessary party, so should be struck out. However, after careful analysis of Section 4(2) Chapter 104 of the Constitution and two precedential cases, the Chief Justice ruled that Granger is a “necessary party” to the matter. In responding to arguments on this matter from lawyers representing the pe-

titioners, Justice George said: “This situation is no different [from the precedential cases], therefore, the submission that none of the parties, who secured seats in the National Assembly should be considered a necessary party, is preposterous, and the opposite position also advanced is equally absurd that those representatives for whom no person named on their list are elected are also not persons required to be served.” She further ruled that the local elections are not restricted to national elections which determine presidency and members of Parliament, but also apply to regional representation. So, to exclude the representative [Granger] of a list which commands 31 of 65 seats in the National Assembly and a list which has representatives on Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) would be to deny the voice of a representative of a large number of electors. “Focus cannot be placed on him alone, but as a representative of the list of candidates… he does not only represent himself, he is a necessary party to the election petition, 99 of 2020,” Justice George ruled. It is for this reason that the late service of the petition on the second respondent amounts to non-service and led to the nullification of 99 of 2020. The same, however, could not be said for petition 88 of 2020, which will be

heard in the court. In delivering her ruling on this matter, the Chief Justice said: “The same cannot be said for petition 88 of 2020, as the procedures in filing and serving were fully complied with… indeed, to permit 99 of 2020 to proceed would be a disservice to the petitioners who ensured they complied.” In the first petition, 88 of 2020, Petitioners Claudette Thorne and Heston Bostwick want the court to determine among other things, questions regarding whether the elections have been lawfully conducted or whether the results have been, or may have been affected by any unlawful act or omission and in consequence thereof, whether the seats in the National Assembly have been lawfully allocated. Attorneys Mendes and Kashir Khan requested that, in moving forward with this petition, certain documents such as Statements of Polls and Statements of Recount, which are in the possession of the Guyana Elections Commissions (GECOM), must be lodged for safekeeping with the registrar of the court. Mendes specifically reminded the court that the Representation of the Peoples Act allows the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) to destroy all elections documents after a 12-month period would have elapsed. The Chief Justice agreed

to the requests and granted an order for the Statement of Polls (SOPs) and Statements of Recount (SORs) be submitted to the court. There are 2, 339 Statements of Polls. Subsequent to the March 2, 2020, in the same month, High Court Judge, Franklyn Holder, had refused an application made to him for GECOM to produce Statements of Poll for District Four. Following a slew of legal challenges and international intervention, a recount was convened and the figures showed that the PPP/C received 233,336 votes while the APNU+AFC coalition got 217,920 votes. Both the SOPs and SORs are expected to serve as evidence when the petition comes up in the court for hearing. Justice George has given Attorney-at-Law Roysdale Forde, who is representing the petitioners, until February 12 to file his submissions and the respondents, including the Attorney General, until March 19, to file submissions in reply. The parties must return to court on April 7, 2021, barring any directions by e-mail.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Pensioner burnt to death in Cummings Lodge fire By Jared Liddell

A FIRE at Lot 570, 10 Field Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, on Monday afternoon, claimed the life of 68-year-old Lionel Kyte, a pensioner, who reportedly locked himself inside the house since Sunday because he did not want to visit the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to treat his illness. The fire, which completely destroyed the one-flat wooden house, erupted around 16:20 hours. The house was one of two in the yard and was owned by Coral Bell; she was renting to Kyte, who lived

alone, while she resides in the second house. Bell told this newspaper that she was watching television when she heard a loud sound that emanated from the “back house”; upon investigating, Bell noticed the fire and the roof had already caved in. According to Bell, when she realised that Kyte was still inside the house, she raised an alarm and neighbours quickly rushed over; they formed a bucket brigade until the fire service arrived some 30 minutes later. “I heard this bang coming from the back house, so I came outside to see what had happened. When I came out,

the fire was already in the ceiling, so I tried to get water, but the water pressure was low, so

I called out to the neighbours and everybody came out and we formed a bucket brigade,

The remains of the house which was destroyed by fire

because we knew he was still in there and we just wanted to get him out,” Bell recalled. Bell opined that the fire may have started from the stove, as she assumed that Kyte may have been cooking. After the fire subsided, Kyte’s charred remains were discovered in the kitchen. Bell recalled that the last time she saw her neighbour was Monday morning when she gave him some soup through his window. Bell said Kyte was sick but he was hesitant to visit the GPHC because he was scared of contracting the deadly COVID-19 virus. “Well, he was sick and someone was trying to get him

to go to the hospital but he didn’t want to go cause he said the hospital got the COVID, so he was afraid and didn’t want to go. So since aand even when I went this [Monday] morning to give he some soup, he didn’t even open, I had to pass it through the window,” Bell stated. She described Kyte as very loving and stated that although he is not related to her, the absence of his presence will be missed by her and her family who have grown close to him over the three years he resided there. Investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire.

Minister Edghill wants Patterson ‘sent packing’ from PAC MINISTER of Public Works, Juan Edghill, has questioned the suitability of opposition Member of Parliament David Patterson to head the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is responsible for scrutinising the mismanagement of public funds. Edghill drew irony from the fact that Patterson is cur-

rently at the centre of revelations that suggest malpractices occurred at the state-owned asphalt plant, which falls under the purview of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC). Reputable on-line news agency Demerara Waves reported on Sunday night that authorities had uncovered records showing that the agency had expended more than

GYD$500,000 of taxpayers’ dollars on the purchase of a wristband and tie pin for Patterson’s birthday in 2017. At that time, Patterson was the Minister of Public Infrastructure with responsibility for both the asphalt plant and the DHBC.

Former Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson

Minister Edghill ahead of Monday’s PAC meeting opined that the committee should not be headed by “someone who is under scrutiny and who has not yet been cleared by way of an investigation.” Patterson chaired most of this week’s PAC meetings but recused

Current Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill

himself when the 2016 Public Infrastructure reports came up for scrutiny. The on-line news house reported that it made contact with Patterson, who used a few expletives and insisted that he never received the incredibly generous gifts, and that the allegations are an attempt to “besmirch” his character. The A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Member of Parliament maintained too that he never instructed or ordered the purchase of the half a million dollars in gifts. Meanwhile, accompanying the explosive article were payment vouchers detailing the transaction. The documents outlined that the band, engraved with the words, ‘for Minister Patterson,’ was valued at GYD$424, 700, while the tie pin was GYD$76, 300. From the paper trail, it is apparent that the entire purchase process was done just in time for Patterson’s birthday. The article also quoted former Chairman of the DHBC Shabir Hussain as saying that he does not recall

the transaction, but is confident that had it been brought to him, the request for purchase would have been met with rejection. Several efforts to contact Patterson for a comment proved futile. The recent probe into the asphalt plant has revealed gross mismanagement, as well as an apparent fondness for jewellery. Investigations into the plant had found that General Manager of the DHBC, Rawlston Adams, had approved the purchase of an $897,000 wristband for himself as a gift from the company on International Men’s Day 2019. In the report, the investigative team facilitated responses from the DHBC on all of the findings, and in addressing concerns surrounding the very generous purchase, the company said that gift-giving was customary at the organisation, and that “Gifts were also given to all other men within the corporation.” However, the gift purchases for all of the other men were valued at approximately only $10,000 each.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Gov’t relying on CARICOM’s staunch support in border controversy –– AG expects ‘membership’ to prevail over ‘economic interests’ THE Government of Guyana is confident that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will give its unwavering support to Guyana in the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela. This was disclosed by the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C., during a recent interview on the “Morning Edition” with Fazeer Mohammed of Trinidad and Tobago’s CCN TV6. Nandlall was at the time discussing the status of the ongoing border controversy. During the interview, Mohammed asked whether the Guyana Government had any concerns about Trinidad & Tobago’s loyalty, given the economic relationship it has with Venezuela. To substantiate his question, Mohammed referenced an agreement inked between Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley and Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in August 2018, for the importation of methane from the Bolivarian Republic’s Dragon Gas Field to the Hibiscus platform in T&T. In response, Minister Nandlall said that the dilemma will certainly put CARICOM to the test, as it will have to choose whether it will stand with one of its own member states on a matter of fundamental national importance, or whether it will bend and bow to commercial interests. CARICOM’s mandate is to promote and support “a unified Caribbean Community that is inclusive, resilient, competitive; sharing in economic, social and cultural prosperity.” Nandlall affirmed that it

is the common expectation that in such a situation, an organisation like CARICOM would stand firmly with its member rather than pursue commercial gain. “I prefer to reside my optimism and my confidence in CARICOM doing that, rather than succumb to some commercial interest of some type to the benefit of one or two members of the organisation, as opposed to the whole of the community, as one family and as one unit, as it is supposed to be,” he said. Mohammed highlighted that in March last year, CARICOM was left divided when United States (US)’s President Donald Trump invited five territories to a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago Estate in Palm Beach, Florida. It was alleged that the countries at reference were invited because of their support of the US’s decision two months earlier to vote at the Organisation of American States (OAS) to withhold recognition of "the legitimacy" of Maduro’s new term in office, while other nations adopted a position of non-interference and non-intervention in the matter. The invitation, which was selectively extended, was at the time viewed as “insulting” by the then CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. But as Minister Nandlall was at pains to explain, like the Government of Guyana, he has every confidence in the Community’s unwavering support; that the Government of Guyana will continue to place its trust in CARICOM, as it is their closest ally in this matter. CARICOM, on January

Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, S.C.

12 this year, issued a statement expressing deep disappointment and concern at the January 17 decree made by President Maduro, which claimed sovereignty and exclusive rights to the waters and seabed adjacent to Guyana’s coast, west of the Essequibo River. SATISFIED Minister Nandlall, during the course of the interview, expressed satisfaction with the statement coming from the regional body, in that it was “appropriately worded and proportionate to what the threat is at this point in time”. He added: “In International Law, and when one is exploring diplomatic channels, one has to be careful that one does not overextend oneself and act in a manner disproportionate to the situation at hand.” Nandlall said there is an expectation abroad that

Host of the Trinidad and Tobago television show, ‘Morning Edition’, Fazeer Mohammed

CARICOM will continue to release its written objections, if Muduro persists with his unlawful conduct. “I have no doubt that should the situation persist and Maduro persists in his illegal utterances and publications, that more appropriately-worded statements to meet the threshold to which he has increased will emanate from the various bodies whose solidarity we are soliciting,” the Attorney- General said.

He stated that the Government of Guyana sought and solicited solidarity and support from many nations. He said that aside from CARICOM, the US government and other international organisations have issued statements denouncing Muduro’s actions. In March 2018, Guyana filed its application at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking an affirmation of the validity of the1899 Arbitral Award which sets out

the boundary between the two countries. On June 30, 2020, Guyana, in its virtual presentation in the Arbitral Award of October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) case, submitted to the court that not only is Venezuela’s current interpretation of the Geneva Agreement illogical and erroneous, but also in stark contrast to the interpretation the Spanish-speaking country had when it signed the very agreement in February 1966. On December 18, 2020, the ICJ ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the case. It was several weeks after this, on January 7, 2021 to be precise, that Maduro issued the latest decree. Two days later, on January 9, 2021, President Irfaan Ali publicly rejected the decree, explaining that “sovereignty over this coast, and the land territory to which it is attached, were awarded to Guyana (then British Guiana) in the 1899 Arbitral Award, whose validity and legally-binding character Guyana is confident the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will uphold unequivocally.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Tajeram Mohabir

Political narrow-mindedness

GUYANA moves on a path today that positions the country to enter the big league among nations of the 21st century, and, given the decades that the nation existed under trying socioeconomic conditions, this almost sudden dawn of spectacular prosperity presents an interesting challenge: how could the society overcome the conditioned mindset of certain public leaders to perpetuate small-mindedness as the national worldview, always becoming confrontational and myopic and spreading innuendos and suspicion? How could the society engineer a rise in the way leaders across the national spectrum see Guyana? How could Guyanese of all walks of life be encouraged to see the new horizon that has opened up? Three news items in the current media cycle show how delicate is the balance between raising the bar on how Guyanese see and think of their country, and overcoming the default fallback of some folk into a narrow-minded perspective of how the nation conducts its business. Guyana cannot any longer afford to cultivate a small-minded worldview. Guyanese could now stand up and see their nation as a standout success on the global stage. Guyana is there, on the threshold. This message needs constant massaging to drive it home, until it becomes the national way of being. The national media reported that an opposition Member of Parliament is seeking clarification concerning a contract that government entered into with an international lobbying firm to conduct Guyana’s lobbying

in the United States. Any sensible leader would welcome such a move. For a country like Guyana to exercise the foresight and insight to engage a powerful, well-connected lobbying firm to push Guyana’s interests in the most powerful political corridor in the world, the U.S. Congress and Senate, and to engage with influential global private sector organisations for foreign investments and other goodies for the country, one would think every Guyanese would feel elated and proud. Instead, with predictable suspicion, aspersions of nefarious intent, and downright pettiness, a national MP sees it fit to spend time and resources on what should be a matter for congratulations and cheers, to question this move. How could it possibly be bad for a worldwide lobbying firm to take on Guyana’s interests, and make sure its national interests receive adequate attention in the global corridors of power? Every major country in the world loves to do this, to lobby for its interests worldwide. The world powers even engage their secret service organisations to engage their interests in foreign lands. Every country in the world knows that it is sensible and common sense and a necessary geopolitical exercise to propagate its interests wherever possible. For Guyana to be able to do this today, is a wonderful blessing to the nation, and it signals government’s wisdom and understanding of how the global political playing field works. In fact, such a lobbying would go a long way to secure Guyana’s case at the International Court of Justice in the Venezuela border

case. Therefore, for an MP to object to such a thing, well, it boggles one’s mind. The second news item making the rounds is a dogged persistence in certain sections of the media and among certain oil-and-gas advocates, that Guyana and Exxon Mobil are engaging in nefarious activities that need to be scrapped. Seeming to lack an understanding that Guyana’s oil-and-gas sector is in its infant stage, and that Exxon Mobile came in when there was no discovery yet, that the company had to make serious up-front investments and outlay of drilling capital, these critics would prefer to see the Guyana Government tear up oil-and-gas contracts and shun Exxon Mobil. Such a thing is inconceivable and makes hardly any sense. Yet, it is disseminated daily across national media platforms. While there must be a structure in place to make sure public officials do not abuse their powers, as Guyana is a full-fledged democracy, one is perplexed and at a loss to see how much criticism the oil- and-gas sector receives. There’s hardly any celebration in these quarters when oil revenue flows into the country’s coffers. Then, a third news item saw criticism against Minister of Sports and Culture, Charles Ramson Jnr., for disbanding and dissolving the Guyana Cricket Board to bring into effect the cricket administration legislation that was passed under former Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony. Cricket is Guyana’s national sport, and it is encouraging to see that government is taking a keen interest in beefing up the sport and bringing better

administration to its governance. In cricketing powerhouses around the world – India, England, Australia, New Zealand, the administration of the sport is the central reason for cricket to bring so much pride and joy to the hearts of citizens. Guyana needs strong administration of its national sport. Cricket plays a vital social function in this nation, bringing entertainment, pleasure, and deep satisfaction to Guyanese. Cricket plays a psychological, emotional and unifying role. Therefore, it is important that government does not take a laissez faire attitude to such an important driver of the national well-being. Every Guyanese should be thankful that government is making sure the sport operates in a way that is conducive to that well-being of the nation. Yet, critics show up to question the minister’s actions. How could Guyana cultivate a national conversation whereby public leaders see the big picture, rather than their own narrow, parochial viewpoints? One solution may be for the state to lay out a structure for a national conversation that points to the big picture, that lays out the direction of the nation, and that paints the picture of Guyana’s brilliant future. The state would do well to sensitise the entire nation, through an engaging, inspiring, inclusive and ongoing national conversation, maybe using the arts and culture scene and media channels, on Guyana’s new horizon.

Targeted raid at Sleepin Dear Editor, I have read of a report in another media of a COVID taskforce raid at the Sleepin Hotel bar on Sunday evening, January 17. Firstly, I welcome enforcement of rules relating to COVID-19; it protects my health. I was told that the curfew for COVID at public restaurants is 10:30pm not 6:30 PM. Thus, I was shocked to read that a raid occurred at 6:30. If it was to enforce social distancing and mask- wearing, it is welcome. PS: I passed at the seawall around 6:00 on Sunday night. There were hundreds of people

close to one another ‘partying’ with many not wearing masks and very close to one another. There was no anti-COVID raid there. I frequented the Sleepin bar almost daily over the last week, meeting guests and or entertaining friends. I did not notice violations of the COVID rules on social distancing and wearing masks. Everyone I saw had on a mask. Because of the nature of a bar, it is expected that not all the time people would observe social distancing of six feet. Drinks and or snacks have to be served. Everyone had a mask except when sipping drink or eating something.

Sleep in is a hotel. The proprietor is expected to serve drinks and meals to guests. The public is discouraged from patronising indoor public restaurants and bars. Guests have to eat and drink. The Sleepin bar and restaurant is outdoor; outdoor dining has not been ‘outlawed,’ although there are restrictions . It is not enclosed. The tables are spaced out as per requirements of social distancing. The risk of infection is minimised under such conditions. No doubt the owner of Sleepin must have recognised the serious threat to health posed by COVID. And I am sure the pro-

prietor took the above measures to mitigate the threat to staff and to guests. The hotel must address the needs and demands of guests in order to retain their business, or else they would go somewhere else. As best as I know, no one’s health has been threatened at Sleepin. It is hoped that the hotel was not targeted. Have other hotels been raided? It is the same hospitality business; they must address the demands of guests without posing a threat to public safety Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

GHK Lall should not critique for the sake of critiquing Dear Editor, THIS letter is a response to GHK Lall who sought to make a case for reversal of the clearance given by the COVID-19 National Task Force – for limited public indoor dining. In his missive carried in the Stabroek News edition of January 17,2021, GHK Lall attempted to heavily criticise the Minister of Health for this move. Lall is largely basing his argument on the 500 cases detected when schoolchildren were tested. While Lall’s concern is not be swept under the rug, the decision to gradually reopen the economy in general is also necessary and calculated. Guyana has been beaten down with five months of political turmoil in 2020. This, coupled with the pandemic, the economic and financial impacts as a result, were devastating to the hospitality and restaurant industry in particular. Many persons working in the industry became unemployed. It is almost 10 months now since the owners of those businesses, the employees and the families who depended on the employment of those businesses, have been out of business and unemployed. The sufferings and hardships, therefore, are unimaginable and this is not an overstatement. Let’s put this into perspective: there are over 100 restaurants in Guyana. Let’s assume that each restaurant employs an average of 15 persons and pays an average salary of $60,000; this is a total of 1500 employees with total average monthly income of $90 million and loss of income distribution of over $1 billion annually. Put differently, we can safely say that more than1500 households have been affected and suffered income loss of over $1 billion for the period. Then there is also the supply chain: the suppliers who supply the restaurants with goods and services that were affected owing to their closure – again, the chain effect on the loss of income and jobs. Globally, the restaurant industry has been severely affected. Countries are also taking steps to reopen their economies safely and that includes the restaurant business. Editor, from looking at

the above data, Guyana’s total COVID cases relative to the total population of the country is less than one percent, which is well below the average of 10 selected countries of 4.6%. Particularly, Guyana is well below countries such as Brazil with 4.02%; Suriname – ½%; the United Kingdom – 5.09%; Canada - 1.88%; and the United States – 7.12%. Hence, from this perspective, the pandemic situation in Guyana is not extremely bad per se – in comparison to other countries, regionally and globally. One has to acknowledge that the pandemic impact is two-fold – that is, it is a health pandemic which has financial and economic repercussions which could also lead to the same social consequences in our society to that of economic depression at the household level; this can also be devastating. Therefore, it is imperative for policymakers not only in Guyana, but globally, to find ways to safely reopen the economy for business as the hard reality is such that the world now has to co-exist with the pandemic. The pandemic is not going anywhere anytime soon. So, should we stay in lockdown forever? Can we afford to be in lockdown forever? The answer is no. Further to note, before I authored this piece, I did some homework. In this regard, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) had strongly lobbied the Task Force for reopening of restaurants for months now against the aforesaid backdrop. However, before this request was approved, both agencies had to assure and convince the Task Force that they have developed due safety protocols to facilitate such reopening. These protocols were then subject to the approval of the COVID-19 Task Force before such decision was taken. As such, it was not an ad hoc or careless decision to allow 40% indoor dining by the Task Force. Further, the GTA and THAG were tasked with the responsibility to ensure compliance with the approved COVID-19 safety protocols. Editor, to sum this up, indeed one has to appreciate that the decision to safely reopen the restaurants and the

economy generally is not an easy task. Yet, at the same time, such decision must be made, must be calculated and take into consideration the other important factors such as the economic and financial impact on households where over 1500 persons lost their jobs and over 100 restaurants risk going out of business. This, as I have shown with a simple scenario, can cost households over $1 billion and the ripple effect can be equally devastating as well, where families who are not earning would be unable to pay their bills, feed their families, pay their mortgages – just to list a few examples of the consequences. Permit me to conclude, therefore, by saying – commentators such as GHK Lall should not critique for the sake of critiquing; rather, constructive critiques focused on solutions for these complex issues will be much more helpful and in the interest of all stakeholders going forward. Lall in all his ramblings failed to proffer any solution whatsoever. The solutions that we need to focus on are to first acknowledge the new reality of the world that the pandemic has induced and help policymakers develop sustainable and safe ways and all other stakeholders need to change the way we conduct business and conduct our lives generally. There are many global institutions, universities and think tanks already focusing on these respects to develop sustainable and safe ways to coexist in a COVID environment. For readers who are interested, JB Consultancy took compiled a proposed strategy to safely help the Tourism sector to recover. https://jbconsultancy. info/a-recovery-strategy-for-the-tourism-sector/. Yours Faithfully, JC. Bhagwandin Principal Consultant/ Financial Analyst JB Consultancy & Associates

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Persons to be fired for malpractices at asphalt plant

FEWER than a dozen persons are expected to be fired for their role in the overall mismanagement of the state-owned asphalt plant, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill confirmed on Monday. Speaking with reporters ahead of the third meeting of the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Edghill asserted that “people will go home.” The minister declined to provide names or even give the specific number of persons who will be sent packing, but confirmed that it was fewer than a dozen. “I can’t give exact numbers, but all the parties who played a role in facilitating what took place, should not be allowed to spread that cancer continuously, even under new management,” Edghill posited. Minister Edghill was particularly hesitant to confirm whether the list of persons to be sent home would include Rawlston Adams, General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC). Adams, who has oversight for the plant, was fingered in one of the more startling findings of the investigations, having

The state-owned asphalt plant located at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara.

approved the purchase of an $897,000 wristband for himself on the occasion of International Men’s Day 2019. Edghill told reporters that he will make pronouncements on Adams’ fate, only after the two are able to meet. “I have not been able to have an all-important meeting with the general manager, face to face. It would be improper; unethical for me to speak to the public about [the] matter when I have not

had the opportunity of speaking to him yet,” Edghill said. Questioned whether the meeting was one that was being avoided, considering that the findings were announced in December last year, Edghill responded in the negative. He further pointed to “scheduling” as being the chief hindrance to the engagement. “If I could get that opportunity today, all the disclosures will [be] made today,” the minister

asserted. Although not contained in the findings of the investigation, recent reports also implicate former Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson in a similar purchase, whereby the DHBC went ahead to purchase a wristband valued at more than $500,000. Patterson has since denied ever receiving the item. Nonetheless, in addition to the exorbitant gift purchase, investigations into the asphalt plant also revealed that the entity had no credit policies, which opened doors for corrupt practices to prevail. The investigations also highlighted the fact that in 2016, the plant had paid an advance payment of $9 million to a company which was only registered the following year. Minister Edghill had reasoned that perhaps the advance payment was startup capital for the shady company. In its final report, the investigative team recommended several measures that should be implemented in an effort to end malpractices at the asphalt plant.

Dead dolphins highlight need for marine biologists By Naomi Parris IN the last few days, two dead dolphins have washed-up on Guyana’s shoreline with no trace or evidence of how they died, and according to local conservationist, Annette Arjoon-Martin, this exposes Guyana’s need for marine biologists and the appropriate facilities. Last Friday, it was reported that the dolphins of the Sotalia Guianenis species washed up on the Perth and Johanna Cecilia foreshores on the Essequibo Coast. This latest occurrence has once again prompt Arjoon-Martins to make a call for a much more robust response to what can be considered as an environmental epidemic. Arjoon-Martin noted that with there being very little resources in Guyana, it is difficult for one to determine the cause of death of the animals. “We have not gone and done any investigations, so we won’t be able to determine cause of death; however, the fact that the dolphins washed ashore is an indication of them being compromised in some way, whether it’s by fishing, whether it be by seismic, we don’t

Conservationist Annette Arjoon-Martin

know,” she said. The recent incidents, she added shows the desperate need for more facilities as well as marine biologists in the country to conduct such investigations. She said this is even more important with the hazards of climate change and with fact that Guyana is now an oil-producing nation. “There is a desperate need for more capacity in the country to be able to respond to these incidents, to be able to carry out the different tests and determine the cause of

death and to have the resources to be able to do that as soon as possible,” she said. She said that it is time Guyana gets marine life experts. “Guyana should have had at least a dozen marine biologists by now to fill the capacity that we need. The fact that there is bar three at the most, speaks to the deficit that still needs to be filled in terms of us having our national capacity,” she added.

Amna Ally expected to be discharged from hospital today GENERAL Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Amna Ally, is expected to be released from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) today, Tuesday, at the end of a 48-hour observation period. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, Opposition Chief Whip and PNC/R executive, Christopher Jones, shared that all is well with Ally, who fell ill on Sunday during a humanitarian exercise in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). “[The] GPHC is keeping her there for 48 hours for observation, but as at yesterday [Sunday] afternoon, she was in high spirits, speaking, no shortness of breath or anything of that sort. She was as per normal, but the doctors out of an abundance of caution, want to keep her for observation. So she should be discharged [Tuesday],” Jones told this newspaper. A former Minister of Social Protection, Ally, had fallen ill on Sunday while in Essequibo, when she was among members of her party who were on a humanitarian mission in the Pomeroon to deliver aid to persons who have been affected by flooding in that region. Members of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition,

PNC/R General Secretary, Amna Ally

of which the PNC/R is the largest member, had taken the decision to use their $25,000 from the COVID Relief Grant to make donations to the persons in the lower Pomeroon villages. According to Jones, the situation developed due to Ally having forgotten to take her medication on the visit. “What lead to her episode, is that on the trip to Essequibo, she had forgotten her medication at home, and as a result of not having her medication, that lead to the shortness of breath and so forth,” Jones said. As result of the situation, Ally was rushed to the Suddie Hospital, where she was given her necessary medication; she was later medivac to the city and admitted to the GPHC.

Authorities monitoring COVID-19 spike in New Amsterdam THE Ministry of Health is paying special attention to New Amsterdam, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), after it recorded a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases, which brought the number of persons in the region stricken with the virus to 366. “Another area that is of concern, where we have seen a spike, is in New Amsterdam. Currently, we have 366 cases there, and, again, the health team in Region Six has been monitoring this, and, hopefully, we’ll soon see the cases start declining… We’ll also have to do contact tracing to the persons already diagnosed with the COVID-19,” Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony revealed during his daily COVID-19 update on Monday. To date, the country has recorded some 6,931 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since its first case in March 2020; a total of 23 new cases have been recorded as of January 18, 2021. Sixteen of the newly confirmed cases ware females, while the remaining seven are males. The 23 new cases were recorded in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Regions One and Ten each recorded one new case; Region Three, two; Region Four, 10; and Region Five, nine.

The 23 new cases were recorded from a total of 262 tests. With the recent recovery of eight persons, the total number of recoveries from the deadly disease has since inched to 6,173. Currently, there are 33 persons in institutional isolation; 551 in home isolation, and another 19 are in institutional quarantine. Four persons are also being kept at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the National Infectious Diseases Hospital at Liliendaal, on the lower East Coast. Many of the persons infected with the virus are said to be asymptomatic; that is, they are not exhibiting symptoms associated with it. The updated COVID–19 Emergency Measures are in force from January 1, 2021, until January 31, 2021. They may be extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health, after an assessment of the prevailing public health conditions of the pandemic. As per the current measures, however, all persons are required to wear face masks when leaving their homes. Physical distancing and adequate sanitisation are also important. The current curfew time is 22:30h to 04:00h. Persons with symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to call the COVID-19 hotline numbers: 231-1166; 226-7480; or 180/181 for assistance.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Local bodies join forces to support each other SIX local organisations have teamed up to sign on to the Civil Society Forum (CSF) which will focus primarily on creating an “inclusionary democracy” that will serve as a vehicle for citizens to participate in the decision-making processes of the state. The CSF, a coalition of organisations which is expected to continue growing, was launched a few days ago at a meeting that saw the six organisations signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that articulates its purpose, objectives, structure, and modus operandi. “The benefits of this organisation are mostly in the form of collaborations and assisting each other to achieve our respective mandates in terms of capacity building, informational resources, support, etc.,” Director of Heal Guyana, Sharon Lalljee-Richard, told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday. Apart from her organisation, the other five are Electoral Reform Guyana (ERG), Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), Roman Catholic Church and Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI). “We were in discussions for about a year. It took this long to formalise due to the elections issue which stalled national progress; as well as COVID-19,” Lalljee-Richard expressed. According to a statement from the CSF, the opportunity for other organisations

Heal Guyana Director, Sharon Lalljee-Richard

to join remains open after the launch. The statement said the body was set up to work towards realising Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana, which states, “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.” In keeping with Article 13, it was noted that the overarching focus of the organisation will lead the CSF to work on civic empowerment and participation, constitu-

tional and legal reform, and with state institutions. “Civil society groups have tirelessly and voluntarily been giving back to Guyana. The CSF does not aim to replace these groups, compete with them, or represent them. Rather, the CSF seeks to reinforce their efforts by providing a forum whereby groups can coordinate, collaborate, cooperate, and reinforce each other’s efforts through shared priorities that are identified through consensus, all with a view to enhancing the participation of citizens in the decision-making processes of the State.” The CSF can be contacted at civilsocietyforumgy@ gmail.com.

Representatives of the six organisations that recently formed the Civil Society Forum

NA man murdered during row over alcohol and food - suspect arrested AN argument over food and alcohol led to the fatal chopping of 40-year-old Mark Griffith, a labourer of Lot 49 Smithfield New Amsterdam, Berbice. The incident occurred at around 17:10 hours on Sunday in front of the victim’s house. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old ‘Smokey’, has been arrested and remains in custody. Griffith’s sister, Samanda David, told this newspaper that he was imbibing at the house most of the day when the suspect passed and invited him to go consume alcohol at a shop close by. David said her mother warned Griffith not to go with the suspect since he [the suspect] was highly intoxicated and was heard cursing on the road earlier. David said, she too warned him not to go. Griffith, however, ignored his family’s warning and left with the suspect. “I say you don’t hear and you gon feel. I came back in and went into the hammock and fall asleep then I heard ‘Samanda! Samanda! Come’. When I come out, I see the suspect with the cutlass and my brother in the trench,” David recalled. Griffith was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he died while receiving treatment. Investigations are ongoing.

‘Hot Skull’ hospitalised after touching prisoner’s buttocks

Alvin Jones called “Hot Skull”

ALVIN Jones, popularly known as ‘Hot Skull’, is nursing several stab wounds about his body after he was attacked at the Lusignan Prison on the East Coast of Demerara on Monday. The Guyana Chronicle understands that Jones was attacked after he touched the buttocks of another inmate. He is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Reports indicated that Jones touched the buttocks of the pris-

oner on Sunday and, subsequently, other inmates taunted the prisoner, who became angry and launched the attack on Jones on Monday. The inmate has since been placed in solitary confinement at the Lusignan prison and the matter was reported to the police. In December last year, Jones was sentenced to 43 and a half years’ imprisonment for the murder, in February 2017, of amateur footballer, Paul Daniels.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Holes on Dawa pump house pose no threat –– says Reg. 2 Vice-Chairman THE two holes on the Dawa pump house at Tapakuma in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is no cause for worry, and will be repaired when the rainy season ends. This was Regional Vice-Chairman, Humace Odit’s response to a question posed by coalition councillor, Trevor Cozier, during a recent Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting. Cozier informed members of the council that he was told that the pump has two holes and he questioned whether this will result in further flooding in the Pomeroon River. Cozier added that the Pomeroon River is

Regional Vice-Chairman Humace Odit (centre) responding to claims of holes being on a pump at the Dawa Pump Station

already “choked” with a high volume of water and should there be any further flooding, the livelihood of cash-crop farmers will be severely affected.

Odit later clarified that the holes are on the pump house and not on a pump or pumps. He explained that the holes are approximately

Tripartite committee to address miners’ safety concerns AFTER several months of collaborative outreaches to investigate industrial and regulatory issues within the mining sector, the Ministry of Labour has partnered with the Guyana Gold & Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to establish a tripartite committee to address Occupational, Health and Safety (OHS) concerns within the mining industry. According to Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton, the idea for the committee

stemmed from discussions between himself and GGDMA officials. He said serious

Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton

concerns about the safety of miners and the fact that several have lost their lives during mining mishaps were expressed. “I had a meeting with the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, and, coming out of the discussion, I had had a discussion with the GGMC on the same matter, I submitted, or recommended that we have a committee where all three of the parties can sit to discuss issues in the mining districts regarding occupational health and safety,” he said. TURN TO PAGE

Coalition councillor, Trevor Cozier, making a point during the meeting

4 inches in diameter and stressed that they do not pose a threat. The Vice-Chairman informed the RDC that engineers are unable to

conduct repair works given the rainy conditions. He assured that the holes will be repaired when there are dry weather conditions. The engineering team,

in the meantime, will assess the holes so that they can source the appropriate materials to repair them when the weather improves.

New stellings for Morawhanna, Kumaka and Port Kaituma –– funds ‘saved’ from ferry contract to be used, Edghill says THE construction of three new stellings in Region One (Barima-Waini) is slated to commence soon and will facilitate the smoother movement of people and goods, according to Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill. The minister made this disclosure in a letter to the editor which was published in the Sunday Stabroek. The stellings will be constructed at Morawhanna, Kumaka and Port Kaituma and according to Minister Edghill, these projects will “drastically improve the life [sic] of citizens of Region One.” The three stellings have long been earmarked for renovations after several sections had been left neglected for years. Minister Edghill disclosed that funds for the initiative will be sourced from the $588 million the government has saved from one of the ministry’s most recent investments. The agreement Minister Edghill was referencing is the construction of an ocean-going passenger and cargo ferry which will ply the NorthWest District to Georgetown route. Government has invested some US$12.7 million ($2.6 billion) in this venture.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill

Minister Edghill disclosed that under the previous administration, the initial budget for the project was some US$15.3 million, which equates to almost US$2.8 million ($588 million) more than the US$12.7 million agreement, which was signed on Wednesday. The contract was awarded to Garden Reach Shipbuilders Engineers Limited (GRSEL) to source a brand new ferry. Further, Minister Edghill stated that construction of the vessel will ensure that future travels to the North-West District and other parts of Guyana are faster, safer and

more efficient. “The award of the contract to GRSEL in the sum of 12.7M USD has saved the people of Guyana 2.8M USD as the only other bidder, Shoft Shipyard Private Ltd.’s (SSPL) tender was 15.3M USD. The savings of 2.8M USD will be invested in the construction of new stellings at Morawhanna, Kumaka and Port Kaituma in Region No. 1,” Edghill said in his letter. Both the stellings and the passenger and cargo vessel are part of the government’s effort to provide the people of Region One with easier and better access to basic resources. According to Edghill, it is a basic need for the people of Guyana to have safe transit points and this has pushed the government to make the decision to begin work on the stellings. The minister noted that the new ferry would provide commuters with shorter travel time and safer and more comfortable services. Given the imminent arrival, now is the opportune time for the stellings to be constructed.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Mother looking to raise awareness about rare cancer that claimed daughter’s life HAVING lost her eldest child to a rare type of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), Shelly Balkarran is planning to do everything in her power to raise awareness about the rare disease, as well as create a safe haven and foundation for young children battling cancer and other deadly diseases across the country. Her 16-year-old daughter, Shaniece Nanhoe, succumbed to the disease on January 4, 2021; she was diagnosed in June 2019. The woman told the Guyana Chronicle that while she is focused on laying her daughter to rest, she is also working on ideas to help better inform people about situations similar to the one her family experienced. “My main agenda is to have a programme where parents are [encouraged] to take their children to have routine checkups…there must be a programme to look for these types of cancers that could actually take over your child’s

life in just a few months,” she said. The rare type of cancer is formed in the soft tissue of the body, specifically skeletal muscle tissue, or sometimes in hollow organs such as the head, bladder, or uterus. The teenager had a facial tumor and had undergone over a dozen cycles of chemotherapy. By the time her doctors considered radiation therapy, the facial tumor had worsened and her doctors informed her that the treatment would only make matters worse. Balkarran noted that she is hoping to partner with a few health professionals to also conduct research to find answers to the questions she had about her daughter’s illness. Balkarran added that while she is mourning the loss of her child, she is taking a page out of her daughter’s book to be brave and to start a foundation or programme in her name to help other children. “She was so brave, she

Shaniece Nanhoe before she fell ill

made pain look so easy, she made pain look like when you have a jar of cookies in your hand and you’re so excited and I want her name to live on. I believe because of her we can help so many other kids.” Balkarran also believes that there are not enough

foundations and programmes in Guyana that offer assistance to parents who have children diagnosed with cancer or other diseases. “I feel as though there are not enough support systems when it comes to kids who have cancer. I don’t hear much about it, we hear about

Shaniece Nanhoe and her mother, Shelly Balkarran, in happier times

women and breast cancer. I’m thinking of the kids, they are innocent, they need some sort of support.” She contended that the foundation will not only be about finding treatments and potential cures to deadly diseases but also about the

child’s or children's mental health and making their final wishes come through. “This will not just be about getting them help from the hospitals; this will also help to make their dreams come through.”

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

New labels for mis-adminstered drug that led to death of children

By Vishani Ragobeer TWO years since three children died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) following the mis-administration of cancer drugs, the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration is working with drug application holders to update the labels on the drugs to prevent future adverse and fatal outcomes. In 2019, three children who were receiving treatment at the GPHC for leukemia, a form of cancer, lost their lives. Seven-year-old Curwayne Edwards succumbed on January 14; Roshani Seegobin, three, died on January 18 and Sharezer Mendonca, six, passed away on January 24. Following their deaths, it was reported that one drug, vincristine, was administered incorrectly, leading to adverse and later, fatal reactions in the young patients. The vincristine was administered intrathecally (injected into the spine) when it should have been administered intravenously (injected into the veins). This mis-administra-

tion has been the subject of concern internationally and since then, pressure has been mounting on the FDA to disallow the preparation of the drug by syringes and instead encourage preparation through intravenous infusion bags only. On January 15, this year, the FDA announced that it is working with the drug application holders to update the labels on vinca alkaloids, a group of chemotherapy agents that includes the vincristine sulfate injection. The updated labels recommend preparation in the intravenous bags only. Since 2008, the National Patient Safety Agency in the United Kingdom, suggested that dispensing these vinca alkaloids prepared in intravenous bags reduces the risk of medication errors due to erroneous intrathecal administration. “FDA also requested more extensive labelling changes for the preparation of vinblastine sulfate (for) injection products. These labelling changes will remove instructions for preparation in a syringe and add instructions for preparation in an

Two of the three young children who, unfortunately, lost their lives

intravenous infusion bag. The changes should be completed during 2021,” the FDA said in a statement. In addition to the three children in Guyana who received vincristine incorrectly, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), also reported that one child in Norway died similarly. “The child from Norway had a brain tumor and was just 6 years old when

vincristine was injected into the spinal fluid via an intraventricular catheter instead of methotrexate,” the ISMP said. In 2019, the ISMP highlighted that the most effective way to prevent patient harm is to supply the drugs in mini-bags, so that the risk of confusion with the syringes is avoided. The institute said it has been advocating for this since 2001.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has promoted dilution of vinca alkaloids in mini-bags since 2007. And, it was reported that most practitioners in the US dilute vincristine (and other vinca alkaloids) in a minibag prior to administration to patients. Though the mis-administration of the drug led to the death of the three Guyanese children, an investigation

launched by the GPHC concluded that “human deficiencies and systemic challenges” contributed to the unfortunate loss of the three children. These included the lack of supervision and inadequate staffing - stretched between various departments - in addition to the mis-administration of the drugs. The Guyana Chronicle understands that three doctors, including one senior doctor, were sanctioned by the GPHC. The employment contracts the senior doctor and one of the two junior doctors had with the GPHC had not been renewed, while the other junior doctor was terminated. In addition to being sanctioned by the GPHC, the doctors who were employed through the Health Ministry would also be placed before the medical board. Former Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Shamdeo Persaud confirmed that these sanctions were imposed on the doctors. That matter is still, reportedly, undergoing “final review.”

Qatar field hospital expected at ‘West Dem’ today TO bolster Guyana’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, a portable field hospital, replete with equipment to treat critically ill patients, provided by Qatar, will arrive today and will be set up at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, in Region Three. Last year, President Irfaan Ali engaged the Emir of Qatar, His Royal Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, where a commitment was made to provide Guyana with a portable field (or military) hospital and ventilators. These are expected to help treat Guyana’s COVID-19 patients. On Monday, during his daily COVID-19 update, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, highlighted that the hospital will arrive in Guyana sometime this week instead of today (January 19) when it was previously expected. “The hospital will be able to accommodate about 60 beds and it has all the

necessary equipment for critically ill patients,” he said, explaining that this hospital will help to increase the country’s capacity to deal with spikes in the number of COVID-19 cases. The hospital is equipped with beds for COVID-19 patients and ventilators and monitors necessary for patients who require intubation. Minister Anthony highlighted that the ministry will be seeking to establish the hospital in the compound of the West Demerara Hospital. Around the world, as existing hospitals have quickly been overwhelmed, governments have been forced to increase capacity by erecting these field hospitals. These hospitals, which look like large, enclosed tents, have been erected in fields, parking lots, parks and other places, globally.

A field hospital at the Ostra Sjukhuset hospital area in Gothenburg, Sweden (Photo credit: IBL/Rex/Shutterstock)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Illegal crossings worry Reg. 9 amidst Brazilian COVID-19 strain –– traders, persons seeking medical attention crossing illegally

By Vishani Ragobeer WHILE Guyana remains on alert for the new strain of the COVID-19 virus discovered in Brazil, the authorities in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are concerned that the illegal crossings may lead to the importation of the strain and a surge in the number of cases of the virus in the region. On Friday, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, related that the land border between the two countries the Takutu Bridge - has been closed since March last year. Limited travel is, however, allowed on Thursdays where goods are brought to Guyana or taken across to Brazil. This arrangement, Dr. Anthony affirmed, is properly supervised by the authority of both countries. Due to the expansive and porous border between the two countries, however, travellers have been able to evade the authorities and illegally cross over to Brazil or from Brazil. To address the illegal crossing that may occur, the Health Minister said that there have been increased patrols from the joint services in both countries. During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock, lamented, “People are still coming across and we see the Brazilian cases rising while we are trying to restrict movements.” Allicock related that many of the illegal crossings occur at night, where, despite the best efforts to patrol the area by the armed forces and community policing groups, travellers are able to “slip

Regional Chairman of Region Nine, Brian Allicock

The Takutu Bridge

through”. He also highlighted that many of the persons who

crossover illegally travel in “cliques” that allow them to

better maneuver the border restrictions.

According to the Regional Chairman, many of the people coming from Brazil or leaving Guyana to travel to Brazil are traders; alcohol, meat and other goods are some of the products traded. This has been the norm, but with the advent of COVID-19, the authorities have tried to restrict travel to prevent the spread of the disease. What is concerning too, Allicock related, is that it has been observed that many of the persons coming from Brazil are seeking medical attention. It would appear as though the persons seeking medical attention are Guyanese who were living in Brazil. It was reported that the Brazilian city of Manaus has been running out of oxygen needed by patients, as there has been a surge in COVID-19. And, Allicock related that few persons from as far as Manaus seem to be making their way to the Lethem Regional Hospital for treatment. “We cannot disallow them, we have to help them,” Allicock asserted. LOCKDOWN POSSIBLE Minister Anthony said also that the health authorities in Region Nine have been on the lookout for any changes in the epidemiological pattern of the virus, which could potentially indicate that the strain has been imported. The Regional Chairman, on the other hand, said that the authorities in the region may have to consider a ‘lockdown’ to protect residents from becoming infected with the virus and its new strain. “We don’t have too much

Tripartite committee to address miners’...

During an interview with this publication, the minister detailed the ministry’s urgency in organising a meeting for the three parties to collaborate on minimising reckless deaths and accidents within the mining industry. “All of those concerns we have to deal with because people are dying. In the five months that I have been here, seven persons have

died in the mining industry, and five in the construction industry. So it’s not just any one amount we have to deal with totality in all the industries,” he said. He further added that the Ministry of Labour has received permission from the Public Service Ministry to expand the OHS Department in order to assist with supervision of the mining industry.

“When I arrived here, there were only nine OHS officers for the entire country. I can report that we will now have 18 more. So that will raise the number to 27. We already have permission from the Public Service Ministry to employ 18 persons for training. Our aim is to ensure that in every region, there are at least two OHS officers. We will get 10 more labour officers, pushing the

number from 16 to 26, a lot of which [sic] would be based in the mining industry, because we have to maintain labour relations. People have died. People have killed each other over money, and we have dozens of reports coming in every day, people with substantial issues that need to be addressed,” the minister said. According to Minister Hamilton, the 18 additional

OHS officers are currently being trained for placement within the various regions to ensure proper supervision and interaction, while educating workers and employers alike about safety practices. The deployment is also intended to foster effective communication between the industrial workers and the Ministry of Labour, in order to gather information

capacity to deal with COVID or the new strain…we’re hoping that we don’t get that type of disease over here that requires that oxygen and so,” Allicock said. Even without the new strain, though, he noted that not everyone in the region has been adhering to the gazetted COVID-19 emergency guidelines meant to help keep persons safe. He lamented that there was a string of social activities, including weddings, parties and anniversary celebrations, over the holiday season, which may contribute to a surge in the number of cases. There are daily radio broadcasts, through which the regional authorities continue to emphasise the need for adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines. Allicock noted that the Central Health Ministry has advised the local authorities to continue emphasising these guidelines amid news of the Brazilian strain. Investigations thus far have shown that the strains, or variants, of COVID-19 discovered in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil seem to be more transmissible. This means that it is more likely that more persons can become infected, thus leading to a “surge” in the number of cases recorded in the country. In order to adequately prepare for such a surge in cases, Virologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica, Dr. Joshua Anzinger, advised the local health authorities to ready themselves to potentially expend more resources for testing and contact tracing.

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on the work environment in the mining industry, and establish supervision on the industry’s health and safety. The GGDMA and the minister anticipate that the committee could be established as soon as next week. The proposed committee will comprise representatives from the GGMC, the GGDMA and the ministry’s OHS Department.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

‘Sleepin’, ‘the Strip’ and ‘Tower’ shut down –– Task Force mulls arresting those in breach of COVID-19 guidelines

By Vishani Ragobeer

AS the National COVID-19 Task Force (NCTF) continues to ‘crack down’ on those businesses operating in breach of the gazetted COVID-19 Emergency measure, the Sleepin Hotel and Casino, the Strip at the Giftland Mall and the bar at the Tower Suites Hotel have all been shut down. “The Task Force did have an operation over the weekend and we did close some delinquent bars,” an official of the Task Force, who wished to remain unnamed, told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday. The Sleepin Hotel, located on Church Street, Georgetown; the Strip, located at the Giftland Mall in Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown; and the bar and entertainment spot at the Tower Suites, located on Main Street, Georgetown were the three establishments closed this weekend for breaching the COVID measures. After months of issuing warning letters to businesses operating in breach of the COVID-19 guidelines,

the Task Force, earlier this month, moved to close down those businesses that did not desist from violating the guidelines. On the weekend of January 10, the Guyana Chronicle reported that 23 businesses were shut down, including 18 bars, three restaurants offering indoor dining and two supermarkets that allowed persons to imbibe on the premises. The gazetted COVID-19 guidelines strictly prohibit the operations of bars, rum shops, cinemas (except drive-thru cinemas) and other such entertainment businesses. And until recently, indoor dining was also prohibited. Following the Task Force’s move to shut down restaurants that offered indoor dining, the gazetted COVID–19 Emergency Measures (No. 13) were amended to allow local restaurants to offer indoor dining, but only at 40 per cent capacity of the building. Since this amendment, restaurants had to bring their premises in compliance and receive certification from the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) before being allowed to offer indoor dining. The of-

The Strip at the Giftland Mall

The poolside and entertainment area at the Tower Suites in Georgetown

The sleepin Hotel and Casino

ficial also told this newspaper that several bars have been operating under the guise of restaurant operations offering

outdoor dining. Previously, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, explained that bars should

not be operational because one would have to remove one’s mask in order to drink, and most bars are based indoors where the potential for spread is much greater. It is for this reason that consecutive COVID-19 guidelines have not relaxed the measures prohibiting their operations. MOVE TO ARREST “If people do not desist, the Task Force will definitely be arresting proprietors and patrons for breaching the COVID-19 measures,” the official also emphasised.

In September, the Guyana Chronicle reported that more than 2,000 persons were arrested for violating similar regulations aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Some persons were arrested while others were charged. During mid-November, over a two-day period, the Guyana Police Force reportedly arrested a total of 116 persons after they were found in breach of the COVID-19 measures. These individuals were mainly from Region Five and Six.

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

First practice game ends with positive results for a number of players By Rajiv Bisnauth

A number of potential Guyana Jaguars’ players sent out a strong signal to the national selectors, during the first practice game organised by Cricket Guyana Inc. yesterday at the LBI ground on the East Coast Demerara. With the national selectors set to announce a 15-man squad for the forthcoming Regional Super50 tournament sometime today, Romario Shepherd, Niall Smith, Akshaya Persaud, Steven Sankar, and to some extent Jonathan Foo and Tevin Imlack, were the stand-outs yesterday. Shepherd and Sankar had figures of 4-24 and 4-39 respectively while Smith claimed 3-22. Persaud stroked an unbeaten 51, with Foo and Imlach hitting 35 and 28 respectively. Meanwhile, in the shortened game, Leon Johnson’s X1 won by two wickets over Hetmyer’s X1. Earlier, when play began just over an hour late from the

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schedule start, pacers Shepherd and Smith justified skipper Leon Johnson’s decision to field as they restricted Hetmyer’s X1 to 152 all out in 33.3 overs. The duo was able to unsettle the top-order rhythm, but a cameo from Ricardo Adams towards the end lifted Hetmyer’s team to a respectable total. Apart from Adams and Persaud, who was the top-scorer with a composed unbeaten 51, the other batsmen lacked application on what appeared to be a batsman-friendly track. However, it was the now COVID-free Shepherd who generated some early movement, thereby starting the slide. He removed opener, Chandrapaul Hemraj, after a first-ball four, caught in the slip corridor, at 5-1. The 25-year-old Smith then drove home the early advantage thereafter. The pacer, who played two List A games to date, bowled with discipline, and in the process, generated pace and bounce to ensure there were no big partnerships upfront. He first bowled opener,

Kelvon Anderson, the former West Indies youth player, for seven, then removed Shimron Hetmyer (2) and Kemol Savory (9), at 53-4. In between those dismissals, off-spinner Ramal Lewis (1-22), trapped Vishaul Singh lbw for 15. At that point, Persaud was joined by Bhaskar Yadram, and the duo tried to limit the damage. But that was not to be, as Yadram went off the bowing of left-arm spinner, Gudakesh Motie (1-26), without scoring. On the other hand, the left-handed Persaud, who progressed through the youth levels, and was a standby player on the West Indies Under-19 team for the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) 2016 Youth World Cup, remained resolute, hitting three fours and a six before the weather intervened, at 83-6. Upon resumption, and with the overs further reduced, the batting side then lost Kevin Sinclair, run out for one, but Ricardo Adams, who joined Persaud, produced a late cameo role to help his side reach a satisfactory position at the half-way stage.

The right-handed Adams single-handidly dominated the partnership, striking five sixes and a four in his 47, in a 59-run stand with Persaud before Shepherd claimed the final three wickets of the innings, including the two Adams (Ricardo and Anthony), and Clinton Pestano. Set a revised target of 143, the bowling side’s spinners then exploited the afternoon conditions upfront, reducing the batting side to 43-4 at one stage. Off-spinner Sinclair had Assad Fudadin taken at the wicket for four before the leg-spinner, Sankar, removed Johnson (9), Christopher Barnwell (0), and Trevon Griffith (19), in quick succession. Foo joined Imlach, and was full of confidence, blazing four sixes which took his team towards the winning position. Antony Adams had 2-12 while Sinclair claimed 2-20. The second game is billed for tomorrow. Meanwhile, Chronicle Sport understands that the 15-man squad is expected to undergo a COVID-19 test on Thursday.

Aubameyang scores twice as Arsenal ease past Newcastle PIERRE-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal beat Newcastle to move into the top 10 of the Premier League and increase the pressure on Magpies boss Steve Bruce. Aubameyang, who had earlier hit the post from a tight angle in the first half, opened the scoring in the 50th minute when he fired past Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow. Arsenal doubled their lead as Emile Smith Rowe’s pullback found Bukayo Saka and the England international side-footed the ball into the net. Aubameyang, 31, got his second and the Gunners’ third after Cedric Soares, in his first league start of the season, got to the byline and set up the Gabon international. Miguel Almiron had Newcastle’s best chance but shot over from the edge of the penalty area when it was goalless. The victory takes Arsenal above Aston Villa into 10th, with the Gunners seven points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool in the last Champions League

qualifying spot. Newcastle are 15th, seven points clear of 18thplaced Fulham, although the London side have a game in hand. For Bruce, who faced calls for his resignation after last week’s 1-0 loss to bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, his side have now not won in nine matches in all competitions. Arsenal revival continues Arsenal are in danger of having their worst Premier League season since 199495 when they finished 12th - the last time they failed to qualify for European football. After Mikel Arteta replaced Unai Emery in December 2019, the Gunners finished eighth last season, although they did win the FA Cup in August. Despite 2020-21 having been a tough campaign for them so far, there have been recent signs of revival and this win extends their unbeaten run to six matches. They dominated possession at Emirates Stadium and should have

taken a 14th-minute lead. Smith-Rowe did well to release Saka and his low cross found Aubameyang, but, off balance and from a tight angle, he could only hit the post with the goal unguarded. Aubameyang twice more failed to hit the target when well placed and David Luiz should have done better with a free header. But it only took five minutes of the second half to make a breakthrough as Thomas Partey’s pass forward let Aubameyang run at the Newcastle defence from the halfway line and he blasted in only his second league goal in 10 games. It became 2-0 10 minutes later when Smith Rowe did well down the left flank and his pass helped Saka score for the third time in six matches. Soares then made a fine run down the opposite wing and his pullback was steered into the net by Aubameyang, whose return to goalscoring form is a massive boost for the Gunners. (BBC Sport)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

India set unlikely 328 to win fourth Test INDIA will need to bat out the final day of the fourth Test against Australia in Brisbane to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Steve Smith made 55 as the hosts were dismissed for 294, setting India an unlikely 328 to win at the Gabba. The impressive Mohammed Siraj took 5-73 and Shardul Thakur 4-61 for an injury-depleted India. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill led India to 4-0 before rain ended play early. Australia scored quickly on the penultimate day, motivated by a bad weather forecast and a desire to put the game out of India’s reach. While India could still win, it is more likely that

they will need to survive a minimum of 98 overs on Tuesday to ensure a 1-1 series draw.

The highest successful chase in a Gabba Test is Australia’s 236-7 against West Indies in 1951.

Mohammed Siraj (right) has taken 13 wickets in three Tests

Australia have not lost in Brisbane since West Indies beat them by nine wickets in 1988.

India are down to the bare bones of their team, however, they have fought admirably in this series and

Root says England on ‘upward curve’ after Galle win

ENGLAND are on “an upward curve” after their seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Test, says captain Joe Root. England are now unbeaten in six Tests - nine under Root - and have won four consecutive Tests away from home for the first time since 1957. Despite slipping to 14-3 on day four, they completed a comfortable victory 35 minutes into the final day in Galle. “We’re doing a lot of good things and it is a great place to be,” said Root. Root, who was appointed skipper in 2017, led England to a 3-0 series clean sweep in Sri Lanka the following year. England have won seven of their past nine Tests under his leadership, and their only defeat in the past year was against West Indies at the Ageas Bowl when Ben Stokes deputised, with Root absent for the birth of his second child. Root, man- of- the match for his 228 in the first innings in Galle, said: “We aren’t the finished article; we have a long way to go. “We are making little errors but we are getting better. That is seen by the results we are having. “We know there are bigger challenges ahead but we are going in the right direction. You can’t ask any more.” England’s players had to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Sri Lanka, and had only one day of match practice before the

series opener. Their win was built around a first-innings lead of 286. They passed 400 in the first innings for the sixth time in 12 Tests, having failed to do so in their previous 23. Off-spinner Dom Bess returned match figures of 8-130 and slow left-armer Jack Leach - playing his first Test since November 2019 - claimed 6-177. Sri Lanka, bowled out for 135 on day one, responded with 359 at the second attempt, and it needed an unbroken stand of 62 between Jonny Bairstow and Dan Lawrence to calm England’s nerves after their wobble on Sunday. “It has not been the perfect performance - we are well aware of that,” Root said.

“But with the little leadin to this tour and the little cricket our spinners have had, particular Jack Leach, for him to come out with five wickets is great achievement for him.” The final Test gets under way at the same ground on Friday, before England fly to India for a tour that begins with four Tests. “It will get more difficult in India,” former England captain Michael Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special. “This is a poor Sri Lanka team; you have to put it into perspective. But the conditions and preparation were not in England’s favour. “I don’t think they need to improve that much, just tinker a bit here and there.” (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD SRI LANKA 1st innings 135 England 1st innings 421 Sri Lanka 2nd innings Kusal Perera c Jack Leach b Sam Curran 62 Lahiru Thirimanne c Jos Buttler b Sam Curran 111 Kusal Mendis c Jos Buttler b Jack Leach 15 Lasith Embuldeniya c Dominic Sibley b Dom Bess 0 Angelo Mathews c Joe Root b Jack Leach 71 Dinesh Chandimal c Joe Root b Dom Bess 20 Niroshan Dickwella c Jos Buttler b Dom Bess 29 Dasun Shanaka b Jack Leach 4 Wanindu Hasaranga c Joe Root b Jack Leach 12 Dilruwan Perera st Jos Buttler b Jack Leach 24 Asitha Fernando Not Out 0 EXTRAS: 7b 1lb 3nb 0pen 0w 11 TOTAL: (136.5 overs) 359 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-101 Perera, 2-155 Mendis, 3-158 Embuldeniya, 4-210 Thirimanne, 5-243 Chandimal, 6-291 Dickwella, 7-296 Shanaka, 8-314 De Silva, 9-352 Perera, 10-359 Mathews Bowling: Stuart Broad 17 – 11- 14, Sam Curran 11- 1 - 37-2 (1nb), Dom Bess 33-4-100-3, Mark Wood 21-5-49-0, Jack Leach 41.5-6-1225 (1nb), Joe Root 11-1-19-0, Dan Lawrence 2-0-10-0 (1nb) ENGLAND 2nd innings Zak Crawley c Kusal Mendis b Lasith Embuldeniya 8 Dominic Sibley b Lasith Embuldeniya 2 Jonny Bairstow Not Out 35 Joe Root Run Out Niroshan Dickwella 1 Dan Lawrence Not Out 21 EXTRAS: 4b 5lb 0nb 0pen 0w 9 TOTAL: (24.2 overs) 76-3 Fall of Wickets : 1-3 Sibley, 2-12 Crawley, 3-14 Root Did Not Bat : Buttler, Curran, Bess, Leach, Wood, Broad Bowling: Lasith Embuldeniya 12-3-29-2, Dilruwan Perera 11.2-1- 2 -34-0

in this Test, with Thakur and Washington Sundar’s 123-run stand on the third day keeping their side in the match. India will be boosted, too, by another good bowling performance from Siraj, who chose to remain in India with the team after his father died in November. The 26-year-old was not expecting to play but since making his debut in Melbourne he has taken 13 wickets at 29.53, and dismissed Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade in Australia’s second innings. Should India bat out the day, the series will be remembered as one of their bravest overseas performances. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD AUSTRALIA 1st innings 369 India 1st innings 336 Australia 2nd innings Marcus Harris c Rishabh Pant b Shardul Thakur 38 David Warner lbw Washington Sundar 48 Marnus Labuschagne c Rohit Sharma b Mohammed Siraj 25 Steven Smith c Ajinkya Rahane b Mohammed Siraj 55 Matthew Wade c Rishabh Pant b Mohammed Siraj 0 Cameron Green c Rohit Sharma b Shardul Thakur 37 Tim Paine c Rishabh Pant b Shardul Thakur 27 Pat Cummins Not Out 28 Mitchell Starc c Navdeep Saini b Mohammed Siraj 1 Nathan Lyon c Mayank Agarwal b Shardul Thakur 13 Josh Hazlewood c Shardul Thakur b Mohammed Siraj 9 EXTRAS: 5b 2lb 4nb 0pen 2w 13 TOTAL: (75.5 overs) 294 all out Fall of Wickets: 1-89 Harris, 2-91 Warner, 3-123 Labuschagne, 4-123 Wade, 5-196 Smith, 6-227 Green, 7-242 Paine, 8-247 Starc, 9-274 Lyon, 10-294 Hazlewood Bowling: Mohammed Siraj 19.5-5-73-5 (1w), T Natarajan 14-4-4-0 (2nb), Washington Sundar 18-1-80-1, Shardul Thakur 19-2-61-4 (1w 1nb) Navdeep Saini 5-1-32-0 (1nb). INDIA 2nd innings Rohit Sharma Not Out 4 Shubman Gill Not Out 0 EXTRAS: 0b 0lb 0nb 0pen 0w 0 TOTA: (1.5 overs) 4-0 Bowling: Mitchell Starc 1-0-4-0, Josh Hazlewood 0.5-0-00-0.00

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

India squad for first two England Tests to be picked today

THE newly-formed national selection committee will meet on Tuesday (January 19) to pick the squad for the first two home Tests against England. The meeting, the first for the Chetan Sharma-headed panel, has been scheduled for 5 PM IST and will take place over a Zoom call and feature captain Virat Kohli, who is currently on paternity leave. With the Indian team doing extremely well in Australia, it is a no-brainer that there will not be too many changes to the squad on a performance metric. All that the selectors - Sunil Joshi, Debasis Mohanty, Harvinder Singh and Abey Kuruvilla besides Sharma will have to see is who is fit and who is not. The focus, of course, will be on Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin - the two

regulars whose availability will be discussed threadbare. The two are not playing the Gabba Test. Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari, the other two presumed regulars in Tests, are out of contention because of injuries. Also unavailable apparently are Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, the two pacers who would have found their way into the squad automatically. But the selectors are on an easy wicket as the Australia series has proved that there is enough bench strength to deal with. Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan and Washington Sundar have provided the team management with a happy headache. All three are likely to be retained. All the selectors, barring Harvinder who is in Australia, are watching the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament at different centres. During an

informal meeting 10 days back, the selectors were told to keep an eye on the first-

Bhagwath Chandrasekhar is among the top-ten wicket-takers for India in Test cricket (Getty Images)

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

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TODAY’S QUIZ:

(1) Who has played most Test matches for BANG to date? (2)

and Thakur in the Test squad in Australia as the injury crisis deepened. The second decision was to appoint Rohit Sharma as vice-captain in place of Cheteshwar Pujara. The thinking was that Rohit is too senior a player to be not named vice-captain. However, with Kohli back in the squad, things will be back to normal -Ajinkya Rahane will be the vice-captain again.. The first two Tests of the series will be played in Chennai -- from February 5-9 and 13-17 respectively. The England team will arrive in India in two batches. The team playing in Sri Lanka currently will fly to Chennai on January 27 by a chartered flight. Those who are not in Sri Lanka but will be selected for the India tour will fly to India on January 23. (Cricbuzz)

Simi Singh stars as Ireland earn 112-run win to draw ODI series

Simi Singh’s unbeaten 54 helped Ireland’s innings recover after a dreadful start and he then produced sensational bowling figures of 5-10

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

(1) (2)

already taken two important decisions. The first was to include Sundar, Natarajan

BS Chandrasekhar recovering in hospital after suffering ‘minutest stroke’

FORMER India legspinner BS Chandrasekhar is recovering in a hospital after suffering a “very, very minutest stroke.” “Chandra is recovering very well, and he will be back home on Wednesday or Thursday,” his wife Sandhya Chandrasekhar told PTI. The 75-year old complained of “tiredness and fatigue” on Friday evening and his speech became a “little bit cluttered”, according to her. On the advice of doctors that he needed neurological treatment, Chandrasekhar, was admitted in Aster RV Hospital, where he was kept in the emergency care unit for medical observation.

class players in the Mushtaq Ali tournament. The selection panel has

Who has played most ODIs for BANG to date?

ANSWERS ANSWER S IN TOMORROW’S ISSUE

Sandhya said that Chandrasekhar has now been shifted to regular ward and is undergoing physiotherapy. “There is some kind of blockage in the brain. It’s a very, very minutest stroke,” she said. “There is no problem. It’s not a life-threatening thing. Please convey to fans that Chandra is very much stable. He has a very strong willpower.” In his 16-year career, Chandrasekhar played 58 Test matches capturing 242 wickets. (Cricinfo)

SIMI Singh scored 54 not out and took 5-10 with the ball to help Ireland beat United Arab Emirates by 112 runs and draw the much-delayed ODI series 1-1. The series was originally scheduled for four games in Abu Dhabi but the UAE were hit by multiple Covid-19 issues. Ireland started slowly but Singh and Curtis Campher (56) rescued them from 10-3 to post a competitive 228-6. UAE reached 45-0 after nine overs but spinner Singh’s five wickets saw the hosts collapse to 116 all out. Singh’s performance with bat and ball - his 5-10 was the third most economical five-wicket haul in ODI history - earned him the man of the match award. He took the first five wickets, aided by some dreadful batting, to leave UAE 64-5.

Kevin O’Brien took the next before any more runs had been scored. Gareth Delany and Andy McBrine took a wicket apiece and there were two run outs as Ireland completed a comprehensive victory. Ireland face Afghanistan on Thursday Ireland planned to use the four games as match practice for their three World Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan which are scheduled to begin at the same Abu Dhabi venue on Thursday. In the event, they had to be content with just two matches as the Irish faced a UAE side who had been confined to their hotel rooms for more than a week because of seven positive Covid-19 tests in their camp. Early on, it was the Irish that were exhibiting all the

signs of rustiness as opener O’Brien lofted an easy catch to Waheed Ahmed before Paul Stirling’s edge to wicketkeeper Vriitya Aravind was followed by skipper Andrew Balbirnie holing out at cover to CP Rizwan in the fifth over. Reeling at 10-3, Ireland only managed six runs in their next 4.4 overs but Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker did manage to dig in to produce a 72-run partnership. However, UAE skipper Ahmed Raza clean bowled Tector (33) and soon dismissed wicketkeeper batsman Tucker to leave the visitors again in a degree of trouble on 99-5. The UAE bowlers tied down Campher and Singh early in their innings as even reaching 200 looked a long shot for the Irish. (BBC Sport)

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, January 19, 2021

WTC final scenario: How the Gabba Test result will affect India and Australia

..New Zealand will keep one eye on the final day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and how the next month pans out

GOING into the final day of the series, not only is the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the line but so are the prospects for a place in the final of the World Test Championship. Currently, Australia - on 73.8 percentage points on the WTC table - and India - on 70.2 points - are both in contention for that final, along with New Zealand, who are on 70 with no more Tests to play; 70 is thus the target for the teams to secure qualification. Here is a look at how the result at the Gabba could impact the qualification prospects of these teams. IF AUSTRALIA WIN Australia will move up to 75.4. They will obviously qualify if the three-Test series against South Africa doesn’t materialise. If it does, Australia will need another 59 points from that series, which they can get

if they win one Test (40 points), and draw two (13 points each).

that Australia do even worse in South Africa. England could come into the reckon-

For now, Australia and India are at No. 1 and 2 on the table, but all that can change very quickly (Getty Images)

So a 1-0 series win will be the minimum margin required to go past New Zealand’s percentage points. India will drop to 66.7 and will need 110 points out of 120 from their series against England. That can only happen if they win 4-0. Any other series scoreline and they will have to hope

ing too if both Australia and India drop points.

DaSilva stroked half-dozen fours and a six while Ambris faced 52 balls and counted four fours and a six. When three wickets fell for 13 runs in the space of 20 balls, Powell arrrived to belt four fours and three sixes in a breeyzy 40-ball knock as he put on 44 for the fifth wicket with Andre McCarthy who made 19. The innings eventually folded for 258 with left-arm

for the tour. And head coach Phil Simmons rued the lack of extensive preparation for the series. “It is never enough for me,” he said ahead of Monday’s practice game. “I think that I would have liked the sort of time we had in New Zealand – but this is what we have, and we try to fit in as much as we can in that period.” West Indies are touring with a second string side after several senior players declined selection due to fears over the COVID-19 situation here. Jason Mohammed, without an international game in 2-½ years, will lead the side in the series. Simmons said Monday’s practice match would help tour selectors put the finishing touches on the final XI for the opening match.

IF THE TEST IS DRAWN

Australia will be on 71.25 points and will qualify if the series against South Africa is called off. If that series goes ahead, they will need 79 out of 120 points, which means at least two

DaSilva hits half-century in makeshift Windies practice match

DHAKA, Bangladesh, (CMC) – Opener Joshua DaSilva hit a half-century as West Indies warmed up for tomorrow’s opening OneDay International with an intra squad match on Monday. The right-hander, poised to make his debut in the threematch series, made 56 from 69 balls while all-rounder Rovman Powell chipped in with 49 and opener Sunil Ambris, 39.

Joshua DaSilva (left) and Sunil Ambris chat during the practice match

However, there was only a single innings constituting 47 overs in the match, which was originally listed as a tour fixture on the itinerary. The right-handed DaSilva featured in an opening stand of 82 with Ambris before adding a further 47 for the second wicket with Nkrumah Bonner who got 21.

seamer Raymon Reifer (2-42) and left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (2-46) finishing with two wickets apiece. West Indies have had limited practice in the buildup to the ODI series. They arrived here eight days ago and spent the first three days in isolation, in keeping with the COVID-19 health protocols

“We are close enough [to finalising the XI] but the practice game will be the best indicator,” said the former West Indies all-rounder. “It will give us the notice that we need and give us [an] idea of what the players bring to the table in a game situation.” The first two ODIs are carded for the capital city here with the final match on January 25 slated for Chattogram.

Test wins. If they don’t win two, they will drop below New Zealand in the table and will have to hope that results in the India-England series go their way. India will drop to 68.3 and will need 100 points at least from the England series. For that, they will need a 3-0 scoreline. Anything less, and they will drop below New Zealand and will be counting on other results going their way. (If the Gabba Test is drawn, if England beat Sri Lanka 2-0, the Australia-South Africa series ends 1-1, and the India-England series ends 2-2, then Aus-

tralia will finish on 65.8, England on 65.6, and India on 65.3.)

IF INDIA WIN Australia will drop to 69.2 and will need 89 points from the series against South Africa to go past New Zealand. That can only happen if they win at least two Tests and draw the third, in which case they will get 93 points from the series. Had Australia not dropped those four points for slow over-rate in Melbourne, they would have been on 70 even with a defeat. In that case, the runsper-wicket ratio would have come into play (since teams

have played an unequal number of series, the series wins isn’t being considered in this cycle); currently, Australia’s ratio is 1.42 while New Zealand’s is 1.28. India will move up to 71.67 with a win and will need 80 more points against England to top New Zealand. They can achieve that with a 2-0 series scoreline in the four Tests. England’s win in Galle has brought them into the conversation as well, but for them to go past New Zealand, they will need to win the second Test in Sri Lanka, and beat India 3-0. ( )

Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, Brian Ramphal, Pooran Singh renew BCB sponsorship OVERSEAS-based Guyanese continue to support the work of the Hilbert Foster-led Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and their plans for 2021. This assurance was given to the BCB by three of the premier sponsors, as part of their commitment to further aid in the progress of Berbice cricket for 2021. Three long-term sponsors have renewed their sponsorship for 2021, while a former executive of the pro-active cricket board donated a photo-copier to assist in the dayto-day administration of the BCB.

T h e c o a c h i n g p ro gramme would consist of the hosting of eight mini academies across Berbice, involving 240 youth cricketers. There will also be eight special clinics for bowlers, batsmen, wicket-keepers and spinners. Additionally, the BCB coaches would also visit twenty cricket clubs in Berbice to conduct sessions with hundreds of youths. At the end of these sessions, a total of seventy promising players would be selected to be part of the Annual Dr. Singh Cricket Academy during the month

BCB president, Hilbert Foster and PRO, Simon Naidu, pose with the photocopier

Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, and his brother Dr. Puran Singh, along with Brian Ramphal are the latest overseas-based Guyanese to join hands with the board to fulfil its mandate in 2021, which has been named “Year of Investment”. Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, a Guyanese-born Medical Doctor living in Texas, USA, has renewed his sponsorship of the BCB countywide coaching programme and also the 2021 Cricket Academy, to the tune of $1.4M.

of August. Foster, who is spearheading the massive marketing drive for Berbice cricket, stated that the objective is to have a pool of junior cricketers that would represent the county over the next five years at the Under- 15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels. Barbados-based Dr. Puran Singh, for the 3rd successive year, would be sponsoring the BCB National Players Financial Scheme. Under this programme, junior and female players

who gain selection to the national teams would receive a stipend of $10,000 each. In the event that Covid-19 forces the tournaments to be cancelled, the funds would be used to provide educational materials and cricket gears to less fortunate Under-15 cricketers. Over the last three years, overseas-based Guyanese Brian Ramphal, who is involved in the technology business, has invested heavily in the development of Berbice cricket. His sponsorship for 2021 includes the hosting of the annual award ceremony, Father and Mother of the Year programmes, Information Posters, 20/20 Cricket Tournament and gears for youth programme. Foster described the Singh brothers and Brian Ramphal as one of the main reasons why Berbice cricket has been so successful since 2018 and hailed them as the county’s unsung heroes. Noting that 2020 was very successful for the BCB despite the COVId-19 pandemic, Foster disclosed that the year of Investment would be the best in the eighty-twoyear history of the BCB. Meanwhile, former BCB Committee Competition and UCCA Executive, Lloyd Simpson, fulfilled his commitment to the board by handing over a photocopier to the BCB president. The BCB uses vital funds on an annual basis on Office administration expenses, and Foster noted that the donation would assist the board to save funds. Simpson, who lives in the USA, stated that he was delighted with the positive development taking place in the county and felt privileged to contribute.

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Voting statutes under review at Jamaica Football Federation

President of the JFF, Michael Ricketts THE controversial issue regarding the number of delegates who vote at the congress of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) is under review for change. This was announced by the president of the JFF, Michael Ricketts, at the annual general meeting held in St Mary last Saturday. “We have begun work on the revision of the statutes under the guidance of FIFA,” he said. Discussions began with a FIFA representative who visited the island in 2020. Since then, Fifa has sent some proposals which a task force established by the board (JFF) has examined and given comments back to FIFA. This is a process that you as delegates and the broader football fraternity will be actively involved in as decision makers. The JFF boss, who had publicly voiced support for broadening of the process, said: “I want to reassure and commit that in the coming period, through all means available to us, face to face, through town hall meetings or virtually, stakeholders will be part of the process of discussion before final decision at congress. There are a number of best practices that will be part of the process of the review. He said a review of the definition of memberships with the aim of widening and deepening the current membership structure is taking place. “The representation here at our annual general meeting as well as voting rights at congress could change based on best practices,” Ricketts stated. The change to reduce the delegates from over 130 to the existing 13 were made under former president, the late Captain Horace Burrell. Ricketts also said that the ongoing review and consultation involves term limits. (Extraced from Jamaica Observer)

COVID-19: GTTA using time to improve Sport SINCE the outbreak of COVID-19 which has plunged the sporting fraternity into uncertainty, there has been a fight to cautiously counter and integrate sport with the pandemic guidelines. Locally, some Sports have been granted permission to resume activities bounded by the pandemic parameters and some have just remained dormant since no ‘on-field’ activities can be allowed. The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has been using the down time to carefully calculate the next move that will benefit the sport and its players. With most of the International events that are attended by Guyana being provisionally cancelled, it has given the GTTA time to refocus their efforts to better construct a smoothly functioning association. GTTA president President of the GTTA, GodGodfrey Munroe frey Munroe, during an interview, said that it was very unfortunate that the pandemic halted a lot of plans. But the association has forged ahead under the pandemic guide-

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lines to cover important ground work in other counties. The fraternity held several sessions online, focusing on players technical and tactical training methods, umpiring courses and improving media presence and futuristic plans for table tennis in the country. They have also developed a Selection Criteria Provision and Policy Guidelines, Policy, directives on coach’s disciplinary matters and a Tournament coordination which is due quite soon. Also, among those plans was to integrate with his players once again because it had yielded a lot of success previously. In 2019, the GTTA acquired the services of Cuban, Osdani Romero Garcia, an ITTF level one certified coach who worked with the local table tennis playing contingent for two months. This initiative was done through diplomatic engagements with the Cuba Table Tennis Confederation Development Support Program. The GTTA boss said that Garcia will not be able to repeat his trade in Guyana because of the no-fly policy which has seen the country of Cuba ban flights from several countries as they try to keep the pandemic under control. Meanwhile, Munroe believes while steps are being taken to move forward during the pandemic, everything they are to do will be temporary.

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DaSilva hits half-century in makeshift Windies practice match

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2021